Experimental tobaccos of various types were produced with different rates of nitrogen fertilization. The amount of phenolic compounds, including chlorogenic acid, rutin, scopolin and scopoletin, appears to be positively correlated to the rate of nitrogen fertilization and therefore nitrogenous fractions in tobacco plants. The levels of phenylalanine and tyrosine in experimental cured and green tobaccos are also proportional to the levels of nitrogen fertilization. These results suggest that aromatic acids are involved in the biosynthetic pathways of phenolic compounds in tobacco plants and could explain the positive relationship between nitrogen and phenolics in certain tobacco plants when the decarboxylation and deamination enzyme, systems are operative. Methods of curing also demonstrated decisive effects on phenolic content in cured tobacco leaf.

(Full article published with kind permission from "Tobacco International")